Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

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Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

I agree & I honestly don't care about Gibson making huge profits or charging astronomical prices. I don't really care for their guitars anyway & would'nt ever buy one.

But saying they have super high overheads..while import guitars don't just goes to prove that cheap guitars are'nt really lacking for quality. Gibson's high overheads/brand value/advertising or whatever..you're paying more for that stuff than you are for the actual instrument.

Taxes and cost of manufacturing in the USA versus paying pennies to workers in China who are borderline slaves. Who would you rather support with your money? Those import guitars have a ridiculous markup as they pay next to nothing for the labor to build them. That's the real crime here.

I don't know why Gibson gets such a bad rap for being a respectable company who does things legally and helps put food on their employee's tables.

As far as quality is concerned, there is a huge difference. People who say there is not obviously have not played very many high end guitars. It's pretty much a blanket statement to say there is not a difference.
 
Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

^ I keep waiting to experience all these terribly made Gibson the interwebz go on and on about. I must be a lucky guy, never seen one.

I love Gibson guitars myself. I have only played two I didn't care so much for in all my days but they were both the faded series and even within the faded series lineup I found a lot of winners. I don't know why people hate on Gibson so much. They build great guitars, great looking, great playing and with great tone and they've been doing it longer than most of us have been alive.
 
Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

Never tried a "bad" Gibson myself either. Some better than others, but all wonderful instruments, from Faded series to Traditional ones.
 
Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

I play less expensively on batter-coated guitars.
 
Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

^ I keep waiting to experience all these terribly made Gibson the interwebz go on and on about. I must be a lucky guy, never seen one.

Google it. :)

Finish issues, tuning stability issues..they're all there (with pics), so yup you're lucky.

Does'nt matter to me though..I would'nt buy them if they were flawless. I just don't care for the way they feel or look. One man's gorgeous is another man's gaudy & plug-ugly.
 
Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

Taxes and cost of manufacturing in the USA versus paying pennies to workers in China who are borderline slaves. Who would you rather support with your money? Those import guitars have a ridiculous markup as they pay next to nothing for the labor to build them. That's the real crime here.

I don't know why Gibson gets such a bad rap for being a respectable company who does things legally and helps put food on their employee's tables.

As far as quality is concerned, there is a huge difference. People who say there is not obviously have not played very many high end guitars. It's pretty much a blanket statement to say there is not a difference.

I've got an MIJ Ibby & a YJM Strat...that's far enough down the $$$ road to go for me. I've played $3000 Gibson's & PRS's that probably cost way more. I would rather play my $300 Cort's (they're way more comfortable, more stable, tuning-wise, have faster necks, more frets, easier upper fret access, bolt necks = snappier & livelier, feel better and sound as sweet) ..go figure.

Bottom line: Blind test = no one tells the difference.
 
Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

paying pennies to workers in China who are borderline slaves. Who would you rather support with your money? Those import guitars have a ridiculous markup as they pay next to nothing for the labor to build them. That's the real crime here.

I don't know why Gibson gets such a bad rap for being a respectable company who does things legally and helps put food on their employee's tables.


China? Like the Chinese Epi factory that Gibson built, owns, and operates? Their employees aren't 'slaves.' You're getting carried away.
 
Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

Google it. :)

Finish issues, tuning stability issues..they're all there (with pics), so yup you're lucky.

Does'nt matter to me though..I would'nt buy them if they were flawless. I just don't care for the way they feel or look. One man's gorgeous is another man's gaudy & plug-ugly.

How do you take a picture of a tuning stability issue?
 
Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

The pics are of finish issues & people are cribbing about tuning issues.

If your's are wonderful in every way..I'm happy for you man.

I'm not the one saying 'X' guitar will obviously play less well & sound crappier than 'Y' because of what it cost.

..That would be you guys.. ;)
 
Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

Nope. I'm not saying that, either. There are lots of good guitars at good price points. I'm just saying I don't believe the Internet negativity about Gibson.
 
Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

Nope. I'm not saying that, either.

Yeah, well that's what most others are saying here. ..& I disagree.

The Gibby's I've played were uncomfortable/awkward & ugly (to me) but were'nt flawed in any way I could tell...but then I was'nt magically mesmerized by their incredibly superior $3000 feel & tone either..not going to lie.
 
Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

Yeah, well that's what most others are saying here. ..& I disagree.

The Gibby's I've played were uncomfortable/awkward & ugly (to me) but were'nt flawed in any way I could tell...but then I was'nt magically mesmerized by their incredibly superior $3000 feel & tone either..not going to lie.

That's cool. We all have brands/styles of guitars we don't gel with.
 
Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

My fav to play is the one with the "unfinished" padouk/ebony/stainless steel fretted warmoth neck.. just one of their "in stock" models, under $300shipped.
 
Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

Do I play better on more expensive guitars? First, I think the term "less worse" is more appropriate, and not really. As long as the setup is playable, I'll play it.
 
Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

Never tried a "bad" Gibson myself either. Some better than others, but all wonderful instruments, from Faded series to Traditional ones.

Me neither, bud ive played a couple of bad fenders.
 
Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

If you can afford a top-of-the-line guitar, buy it! If you're playing the right guitar in the first place (one that fits YOU best) you shouldn't experience too many problems.

Right now I'm enjoying my imports heartily, but I definitely want to purchase a USA B.C. Rich because of it's top of the line build, not entirely for it's tone. I mean, I play Metal for goodness sakes - you don't need a USA just to play Metal. My imports work just fine TBH.
 
Re: Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

Beware, touchy subject. Nowadays, many upmarket guitars are not worth their asking price IMHO. However, those that are, do not compare to even the brightest gems among El Cheapos even pimped and customized to their limit, they are on a different planet, really.

Over the years, budget guitars improved the most. Tremendous value out of the box used to be an exception, now it is the norm. The high end gets diluted by high overhead (bankers, lawyers, endorsements and the whole marketing propaganda machine, government, mafia, local authorities and other bureaucrats all taking their cuts), lots of newcomer builders, the demand side starts to smell a bit too (just for whom would you build a high caliber instrument nowadays?). Much of the money coming to the market is spread thin and goes towards producing more and more shiny mediocrity.

Gibson this, gibson that. I honestly can't stand their advertising and marketing scheme but do you really give a tuck? Want to talk about how much you love'em or hate'em, hoping that finding like-thinking fellows comforts your social instinct? Whatever, I've got no horse in this race. They might be thought of as overpriced (compared to what, the far east... come on?) but curse me if they don't let out a fine guitar every now and then. Even if it's only because the stars lined up just right. Obsolete? Just like all the rest when guitar music is falling out of mainstream focus. Gibson's retro styling is sticking to what they do best.

In the end, only the result matters. I don't mind if you overpaid for the brand name or if you got your guitar for peanuts. If it helps you play pretty tunes is all that will be remembered.

One of the best guitars of about the thousand I have played, cost me peanuts. However, that $4k Knaggs I tried recently was clearly better still, as was one BFR MM.
I am not at all intimidated by pricy guitars but I do raise the bar accordingly. I expect a high dollar piece to resonate every note on the fretboard with good sustain, producing a full, lively, warm, capturing sound with good definition. Those that live up to my expectations do not happen very often, honestly.

Pretty sure a decent budget instrument with basic upgrades will be indistinguishable from a way more expensive guitar in a blind test as far as both playability and sound are concerned..
No offence meant but tell you what, maybe some people can't tell a pimped cookie cutter sweat shop special from an expertly handcrafted instrument. Quite possible that numerous people lack the experience or the subtlety it takes to appreciate an oeuvre of outstanding quality but calling it indistinguishable seems a bit of a hyperbole.

Do I play better on my most expensive piece? I don't think so. I do play faster because it's also my favorite neck ever. Fact is, I've been the most creative playing low to midlevel imports.

Play whatever turns you on and what you can afford.
 
Anyone find they play better on less expensive guitars?

^^ +1

Well said, vinta9e!


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